Plate and frame heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

A plate and frame heat exchanger includes a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions synchronously movable toward each other for forming a compressed plate package by a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage being drivingly actuated in one direction by a drive unit selectively connected to the drive linkage. The end frame portions are synchronously movable away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package such that individual plates from the plate package are removable from the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger being drivingly actuated in a direction opposite the one direction by the drive unit. The drive unit is selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to heat exchangers and more particularly to plate and frame heat exchangers.

Plate and frame heat exchangers are widely used in a number of industries that require the heat transfer plates to be regularly separated and/or removed for inspection and cleaning. In many installations, a plurality of plate and frame heat exchangers may be situated in close proximity to each other. Opening and closure systems for plate and frame heat exchangers are well known. As shown in FIG. 1, a plate and frame heat exchanger 10 utilizes a compartment 13 containing a drive linkage 12 incorporating an integral motorized drive unit 14 therein to compress (or uncompress) a plate package 15 of heat transfer plates.

However, even in the industries that require the heat transfer plates to the regularly separated and/or removed, there is a great deal of downtime between such activities. Other industries require less frequent separation/removal of the heat transfer plates. As a result, expensive components, such as the integral motorized drive units, typically sit idle. Moreover, since an integral motorized drive units is required for each plate and frame heat exchanger, the expense associated with the inefficient utilization of the integral motorized drive units is likewise multiplied.

It would be desirable in the art for plate and frame heat exchangers without the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a plate and frame heat exchanger including a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions synchronously movable toward each other for forming a compressed plate package by a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage being drivingly actuated in one direction by a drive unit selectively connected to the drive linkage. The end frame portions are synchronously movable away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package such that individual plates from the plate package are removable from the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger being drivingly actuated in a direction opposite the one direction by the drive unit. The drive unit is selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for operating a plate and frame heat exchanger including providing a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions. The method further includes selectively connecting a drive unit to a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger for synchronously moving the end plate portions toward and away from each other by the drive unit for respectively forming a compressed plate package and an uncompressed plate package. The method further includes selectively disconnecting the drive unit from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is directed to a drive unit for use with a plate and frame heat exchanger having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions. The drive unit includes a drive source having a drive member for drivingly engaging a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger. Actuation of the drive source in one direction results in the drive linkage selectively moving the end plate portions toward each other for forming a compressed plate package. Actuation of the drive source in another direction results in the drive linkage selectively moving the end plate portions away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package. The drive unit is selectively connectable with the plate and frame heat exchanger, the drive unit being selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a prior art plate and frame heat exchanger.

FIG. 2 shows an upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a plate and frame heat exchanger.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show respective upper perspective and elevation views of an exemplary embodiment of a drive unit for a plate and frame heat exchanger.

FIG. 5 shows an upper perspective view of the plate and frame heat exchanger of FIG. 2 with portions removed for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the plate and frame heat exchanger of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show upper perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a drive unit prior to assembly with a gearbox of a drive unit of a plate and frame heat exchanger.

FIG. 9 shows an upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a plate and frame heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a plate and frame heat exchanger and drive unit, the drive unit for use with a plate and frame heat exchanger, and method of operating a plate and frame heat exchanger that overcome drawbacks associated with such conventional plate and frame heat exchangers. While discussed in the context of a particular plate and frame heat exchanger, it will be appreciated that all of the aspects of that plate and frame heat exchanger are not required to be used in combination. Rather any one of the components or subassemblies can be separately employed in conjunction with otherwise conventional plate and frame heat exchangers or otherwise combined in any manner desired.

Sensory indicia is defined as an indicator or stimulus associated with an occurrence or establishment of an event in a manner that is perceived by one or more of the faculties (e.g., visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory) such as the occurrence or establishment of a selective connection between a drive unit 54 and a plate and frame heat exchanger 50 of the present application (FIG. 9), as will be discussed in further detail below.

Manually, as in “manually selectively connected,” “manually selectively connectable” or the like is defined as being capable of assembly and disassembly without tools, such as only requiring the use of an operator's fingers.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary plate and frame heat exchanger 50 having a drive unit 54 that is selectively connected to a drive linkage 52. That is, drive unit 54 is selectively separable from plate and frame heat exchanger 50 without disassembly of drive linkage 52, such that the drive unit can then be selectively connected (and thus shared) with multiple, different plate and frame heat exchangers, resulting in significant cost savings, as one drive unit may be used to accommodate multiple plate and frame heat exchangers.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 2, while drive unit 54 is selectively connected to drive linkage 52, a rotational movement 17 of a drive member 58 of drive unit 54 about an axis 64 (FIG. 3) drivingly rotates a driven member 66 of a gearbox 68 (FIG. 7) of drive linkage 52 for synchronously rotatably driving threaded rods 30 of a threaded rod assembly 31 relative to end frame portions 20, 22. As a result of or in response to synchronous rotation of threaded rods 30 of threaded rod assembly 31 relative to end frame portions 20, 22 in one rotational movement or rotational direction 28, end frame portion 22 is urged or drivingly actuated in movement direction 36 toward end frame portion 20 for forming or arranging a plurality of heat exchanger plates 18 of a plate package 16 in a compressed plate package 32. When heat exchanger plates 18 are arranged in compressed plate package 32, a pair of fluids (not shown) can be brought into thermal communication with each other as a result of the fluids entering and exiting corresponding fluid ports 24, 26 of respective end frame portions 22, 20 as is well known. Alternately, as a result of or in response to synchronous rotation of threaded rods 30 of threaded rod assembly 31 relative to end frame portions 20, 22, in an opposed rotational movement or rotational direction 28, end frame portion 22 is urged or drivingly actuated in movement direction 36 away from end frame portion 20 for forming or arranging the plurality of heat exchanger plates 18 are arranged in an uncompressed plate package 34. That is, with heat exchanger plates 18 in uncompressed plate package 34, heat exchanger plates 18 are individually movable (and/or removable) relative to one another, for purposes such as inspection of heat exchanger plates 18.

FIG. 5 shows plate and frame heat exchanger 50 in a manner similar to that of FIG. 2, except a panel 74 surrounding drive linkage 52 is removed for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of plate and frame heat exchanger 50.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, drive unit 54 includes a housing 60 extending to a drive source 56, such as a motor powered by a power source (not shown) including electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or any suitable power source. In one embodiment, the power source such as an electrical cable mating with a facility power outlet can be temporarily disconnected during use, with the drive unit containing batteries stored within the drive unit sufficient for temporary operation of the drive unit. In registry with drive source 56 is a drive member 58 that is urged into rotational movement 17 about axis 64 by drive source 56. As further shown in FIG. 3, drive unit 54 includes a faceplate 62 extending from housing 60 in a direction opposite drive source 56, through which drive member 58 extends. While drive source 56 and drive member 58 are shown as being axially aligned with each other, in another embodiment, drive source 56 drive member 58 may be positioned in a non-axial arrangement to each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, drive member 58 drivingly engages a driven member 66 of gearbox 68 of drive linkage 52. That is, when drive member 58 is engaged or selectively connected with driven member 66, in response to drive member 58 being urged into rotational movement 17 about axis 64, driven member 66 is likewise urged into rotational movement 17 about axis 64. As further shown in FIG. 7, drive linkage 52 includes gearbox 68 having gear(s) 70 that drivingly engage corresponding components of drive linkage 52, such as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 8, to form a selective connection between drive unit 54 and gearbox 68 of drive linkage 52, drive member 58 and driven member 66 are brought into alignment with axis 64 (FIG. 7) until faceplate 62 of drive unit 54 is brought into contact with a reinforcement plate 72 and corresponding portion of panel 74 that surrounds drive linkage 52 (FIG. 2). Substantially simultaneously, drive member 58 extends through an opening 76 formed through each of reinforcement plate 72 and a corresponding portion of panel 74 to engage driven member 66. While drive member 58 and driven member 66 are shown in FIG. 8 having mating square drive features, drive member 58 and driven member 66 may use any geometric features suitable for rotatably driven movement therebetween along a common rotational axis.

As further shown in FIG. 8, in one embodiment, to assist with forming the selective connection, a guide feature 78 may be utilized, such as one or more pin(s) 80 extending from faceplate 62 that is/are received by corresponding aperture(s) 82. In FIG. 8, two pairs of guide features 78 are shown (i.e., each guide feature pair comprising one pin 80 corresponding to one aperture 82). In another embodiment, guide feature(s) 78 can extend outwardly or inwardly from one or more of faceplate 62 and reinforcement plate 72. In other words, any combination of features formed in or on one or more of faceplate 62 or other portion of drive unit 54 and a reinforcement plate 72 or other corresponding portion of the plate and frame heat exchanger resulting in improved alignment for helping establish a selective connection between drive member 58 and driven member 66 may be considered a guide feature 78 purposes of this disclosure. For example, collar 94, which extends outwardly from face plate 62 toward drive member 58, has an outer diameter only slightly smaller in size than the diameter of opening 76, permitting collar 94 to be slidably inserted inside of opening 76 for establishing the selective connection. As a result, collar 94 may, by itself, or in combination with other features, act as a guide feature between drive unit 54 and plate and frame heat exchanger 50.

As further shown in FIG. 8, a selective connection 84 is formed by each fastener 86, such as a butterfly bolt engaging a corresponding threaded opening 88. For purposes of this disclosure, the term selective connection is understood to include one or more engagements of corresponding components for securing drive unit 54 and a rotatably driven arrangement to gearbox 68. In this embodiment, drive unit 54 is manually selectively connectable to plate and frame heat exchanger 50, and any components such as but not limited to ball-lock pins or any suitable components that permit assembly and disassembly of selective connection 84 without requiring tools may be used. In another embodiment, any suitable components that permit assembly and disassembly of selective connection 84 aided by tools may be used. Irrespective of the type of selective connection established, while drive unit 54 is selectively connected to plate and frame heat exchanger 50, forces generated by drive unit 54 during operation of drive unit 54 are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger. That is, once the selective connection between drive unit 54 and plate and frame heat exchanger 50 is established, an operator is not required to secure or otherwise provide structural support of drive unit 54 until the selective connection has been removed or disassembled, permitting the drive unit to be selectively separated from the plate and frame heat exchanger.

As shown in FIG. 9, optionally, a sensor 90 is provided to determine when a suitable connection between drive unit 54 and drive linkage 52 has been established such that the drive unit may be safely operated. For example, a suitable connection between drive unit 54 and drive linkage 52 may be established when both pins 80 and corresponding apertures 82 (FIG. 8) are engaged, in addition to engagement of fasteners 86 corresponding openings 88. In one embodiment, sensor 90 measures electrical continuity between contacting surfaces of pins 80 and corresponding apertures 82 (FIG. 8) as well as between contacting surfaces of fasteners 86 and corresponding openings 88 (FIG. 8), as is well known. In another embodiment, other measurements may be used to determine when a suitable connection between drive unit 54 and drive linkage 52 has been established, such as may be measured by proximity switches or other suitable parameter measuring devices usable to determine when a suitable connection between drive unit 54 and drive linkage 52 is been established. In response to sensor 90 determining when a suitable connection drive unit 54 and drive linkage 52 has been established, sensor 90 activates a sensory indicia source 92 that generates sensory indicia for alerting an operator in a manner that is perceived by one or more of the operator's faculties (e.g., visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory). Sensory indicia source 92 may be any suitable device for generating sensory indicia perceived by the operator. The connections to and/or between sensor 90 and sensory indicia source 92 may include wires or may be wireless.

While the foregoing specification illustrates and describes exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plate and frame heat exchanger comprising: a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions synchronously movable toward each other for forming a compressed plate package by a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage being drivingly actuated in one direction by a drive unit selectively connected to the drive linkage; the end frame portions synchronously movable away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package such that individual plates from the plate package are removable from the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger being drivingly actuated in a direction opposite the one direction by the drive unit; wherein the drive unit being selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.
 2. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein sensory indicia is generated upon achieving the selective connection between the drive unit and the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 3. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein sensory indicia is selected from the group consisting of at least one of visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory indicia.
 4. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein while the drive unit is selectively connected to the plate and frame heat exchanger, forces generated by the drive unit during operation of the drive unit are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 5. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the drive unit is manually selectively connectable to the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 6. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein sensory indicia is selected from the group consisting of at least one of visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory indicia.
 7. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein while the drive unit is selectively connected to the plate and frame heat exchanger, forces generated during operation of the drive unit are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 8. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein a drive member of the drive unit rotates about a first axis in a first direction for synchronously rotatably driving threaded rods of a threaded rod assembly via the drive linkage relative to the end frame portions for forming the compressed plate package, the drive member of the drive unit rotates about the first axis in a second direction opposite the first direction for synchronously rotatably driving threaded rods of the threaded rod assembly via the drive linkage relative to the end frame portions for forming the uncompressed plate package.
 9. The plate and frame heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein at least one of the drive unit and a corresponding portion of the plate and frame heat exchanger includes a guide feature for guiding a drive member of the drive unit into a selective connection with the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 10. A method for operating a plate and frame heat exchanger comprising: providing a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions; selectively connecting a drive unit to a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger for synchronously moving the end plate portions toward and away from each other by the drive unit for respectively forming a compressed plate package and an uncompressed plate package, and selectively disconnecting the drive unit from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein selectively connecting the drive unit includes at least one of the drive unit and a corresponding portion of the plate and frame heat exchanger having a guide feature for guiding the drive member into the selective connection with the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein selectively connecting the drive unit includes generating sensory indicia upon achieving the selective connection between the drive unit and the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein sensory indicia is selected from the group consisting of at least one of visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory indicia.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein upon selectively connecting the drive unit to the plate and frame heat exchanger, forces generated by the drive unit during operation of the drive unit are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger.
 15. A drive unit for use with a plate and frame heat exchanger having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions, the drive unit comprising: a drive source having a drive member for drivingly engaging a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger, wherein actuation of the drive source in one direction results in the drive linkage selectively moving the end plate portions toward each other for forming a compressed plate package, and wherein actuation of the drive source in another direction results in the drive linkage selectively moving the end plate portions away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package, and wherein the drive unit is selectively connectable with the plate and frame heat exchanger, the drive unit being selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage. 